scholarly journals Comparison of measured brightness temperatures from SMOS with modelled ones from ORCHIDEE and H-TESSEL over the Iberian Peninsula

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 13019-13067
Author(s):  
A. Barella-Ortiz ◽  
J. Polcher ◽  
P. de Rosnay ◽  
M. Piles ◽  
E. Gelati
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Microwave Emission ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Brightness Temperatures

Abstract. L-Band radiometry is considered to be one of the most suitable techniques to estimate surface soil moisture by means of remote sensing. Brightness temperatures are key in this process, as they are the main input in the retrieval algorithm. The work exposed compares brightness temperatures measured by the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission to two different sets of modelled ones, over the Iberian Peninsula from 2010 to 2012. The latter were estimated using a radiative transfer model and state variables from two land surface models: (i) ORganising Carbon and Hydrology In Dynamic EcosystEms (ORCHIDEE) and (ii) Hydrology – Tiled ECMWF Scheme for Surface Exchanges over Land (H-TESSEL). The radiative transfer model used is the Community Microwave Emission Model (CMEM). A good agreement in the temporal evolution of measured and modelled brightness temperatures is observed. However, their spatial structures are not consistent between them. An Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis of the brightness temperature's error identifies a dominant structure over the South-West of the Iberian Peninsula which evolves during the year and is maximum in Fall and Winter. Hypotheses concerning forcing induced biases and assumptions made in the radiative transfer model are analysed to explain this inconsistency, but no candidate is found to be responsible for it at the moment. Further hypotheses are proposed at the end of the paper.

scholarly journals Comparison of measured brightness temperatures from SMOS with modelled ones from ORCHIDEE and H-TESSEL over the Iberian Peninsula

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 357-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaïs Barella-Ortiz ◽  
Jan Polcher ◽  
Patricia de Rosnay ◽  
Maria Piles ◽  
Emiliano Gelati
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Forthcoming Paper ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Brightness Temperatures

Abstract. L-band radiometry is considered to be one of the most suitable techniques to estimate surface soil moisture (SSM) by means of remote sensing. Brightness temperatures are key in this process, as they are the main input in the retrieval algorithm which yields SSM estimates. The work exposed compares brightness temperatures measured by the SMOS mission to two different sets of modelled ones, over the Iberian Peninsula from 2010 to 2012. The two modelled sets were estimated using a radiative transfer model and state variables from two land-surface models: (i) ORCHIDEE and (ii) H-TESSEL. The radiative transfer model used is the CMEM. Measured and modelled brightness temperatures show a good agreement in their temporal evolution, but their spatial structures are not consistent. An empirical orthogonal function analysis of the brightness temperature's error identifies a dominant structure over the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula which evolves during the year and is maximum in autumn and winter. Hypotheses concerning forcing-induced biases and assumptions made in the radiative transfer model are analysed to explain this inconsistency, but no candidate is found to be responsible for the weak spatial correlations at the moment. Further hypotheses are proposed and will be explored in a forthcoming paper. The analysis of spatial inconsistencies between modelled and measured TBs is important, as these can affect the estimation of geophysical variables and TB assimilation in operational models, as well as result in misleading validation studies.

scholarly journals Optimization of a Radiative Transfer Forward Operator for Simulating SMOS Brightness Temperatures over the Upper Mississippi Basin

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 1109-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lievens ◽  
A. Al Bitar ◽  
N. E. C. Verhoest ◽  
F. Cabot ◽  
G. J. M. De Lannoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Microwave Emission ◽  
Cumulative Distribution ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Forward Operator

Abstract The Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite mission routinely provides global multiangular observations of brightness temperature TB at both horizontal and vertical polarization with a 3-day repeat period. The assimilation of such data into a land surface model (LSM) may improve the skill of operational flood forecasts through an improved estimation of soil moisture SM. To accommodate for the direct assimilation of the SMOS TB data, the LSM needs to be coupled with a radiative transfer model (RTM), serving as a forward operator for the simulation of multiangular and multipolarization top of the atmosphere TBs. This study investigates the use of the Variable Infiltration Capacity model coupled with the Community Microwave Emission Modelling Platform for simulating SMOS TB observations over the upper Mississippi basin, United States. For a period of 2 years (2010–11), a comparison between SMOS TBs and simulations with literature-based RTM parameters reveals a basin-averaged bias of 30 K. Therefore, time series of SMOS TB observations are used to investigate ways for mitigating these large biases. Specifically, the study demonstrates the impact of the LSM soil moisture climatology in the magnitude of TB biases. After cumulative distribution function matching the SM climatology of the LSM to SMOS retrievals, the average bias decreases from 30 K to less than 5 K. Further improvements can be made through calibration of RTM parameters related to the modeling of surface roughness and vegetation. Consequently, it can be concluded that SM rescaling and RTM optimization are efficient means for mitigating biases and form a necessary preparatory step for data assimilation.

scholarly journals Effect of Structural Uncertainty in Passive Microwave Soil Moisture Retrieval Algorithm

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1225
Author(s):  
Lanka Karthikeyan ◽  
Ming Pan ◽  
Dasika Nagesh Kumar ◽  
Eric F. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Structural Uncertainty ◽  
Three Solutions ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
Retrieval Algorithms

Passive microwave sensors use a radiative transfer model (RTM) to retrieve soil moisture (SM) using brightness temperatures (TB) at low microwave frequencies. Vegetation optical depth (VOD) is a key input to the RTM. Retrieval algorithms can analytically invert the RTM using dual-polarized TB measurements to retrieve the VOD and SM concurrently. Algorithms in this regard typically use the τ-ω types of models, which consist of two third-order polynomial equations and, thus, can have multiple solutions. Through this work, we find that uncertainty occurs due to the structural indeterminacy that is inherent in all τ-ω types of models in passive microwave SM retrieval algorithms. In the process, a new analytical solution for concurrent VOD and SM retrieval is presented, along with two widely used existing analytical solutions. All three solutions are applied to a fixed framework of RTM to retrieve VOD and SM on a global scale, using X-band Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) TB data. Results indicate that, with structural uncertainty, there ensues a noticeable impact on the VOD and SM retrievals. In an era where the sensitivity of retrieval algorithms is still being researched, we believe the structural indeterminacy of RTM identified here would contribute to uncertainty in the soil moisture retrievals.

scholarly journals Global Calibration of the GEOS-5 L-Band Microwave Radiative Transfer Model over Nonfrozen Land Using SMOS Observations

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 765-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriëlle J. M. De Lannoy ◽  
Rolf H. Reichle ◽  
Valentijn R. N. Pauwels
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Global Average ◽  
L Band ◽  
Parameter Values

Abstract A zero-order (tau-omega) microwave radiative transfer model (RTM) is coupled to the Goddard Earth Observing System, version 5 (GEOS-5) catchment land surface model in preparation for the future assimilation of global brightness temperatures (Tb) from the L-band (1.4 GHz) Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) missions. Simulations using literature values for the RTM parameters result in Tb biases of 10–50 K against SMOS observations. Multiangular SMOS observations during nonfrozen conditions from 1 July 2011 to 1 July 2012 are used to calibrate parameters related to the microwave roughness h, vegetation opacity τ and/or scattering albedo ω separately for each observed 36-km land grid cell. A particle swarm optimization is used to minimize differences in the long-term (climatological) mean values and standard deviations between SMOS observations and simulations, without attempting to reduce the shorter-term (seasonal to daily) errors. After calibration, global Tb simulations for the validation year (1 July 2010 to 1 July 2011) are largely unbiased for multiple incidence angles and both H and V polarization [e.g., the global average absolute difference is 2.7 K for TbH(42.5°), i.e., at 42.5° incidence angle]. The calibrated parameter values depend to some extent on the specific land surface conditions simulated by the GEOS-5 system and on the scale of the SMOS observations, but they also show realistic spatial distributions. Aggregating the calibrated parameter values by vegetation class prior to using them in the RTM maintains low global biases but increases local biases [e.g., the global average absolute difference is 7.1 K for TbH(42.5°)].

Characterization of Bias of Advanced Himawari Imager Infrared Observations from NWP Background Simulations Using CRTM and RTTOV

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 2553-2567 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Zou ◽  
X. Zhuge ◽  
F. Weng
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Brightness Temperatures ◽  
Emissivity Model ◽  
New Generation

AbstractStarting in 2014, the new generation of Japanese geostationary meteorological satellites carries an Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) to provide the observations of visible, near infrared, and infrared with much improved spatial and temporal resolutions. For applications of the AHI measurements in numerical weather prediction (NWP) data assimilation systems, the biases of the AHI brightness temperatures at channels 7–16 from the model simulations are first characterized and evaluated using both the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) and the Radiative Transfer for the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (RTTOV). It is found that AHI biases under a clear-sky atmosphere are independent of satellite zenith angle except for channel 7. The biases of three water vapor channels increase with scene brightness temperatures and are nearly constant except at high brightness temperatures for the remaining infrared channels. The AHI biases at all the infrared channels are less than 0.6 and 1.2 K over ocean and land, respectively. The differences in biases between RTTOV and CRTM with the land surface emissivity model used in RTTOV are small except for the upper-tropospheric water vapor channels 8 and 9 and the low-tropospheric carbon dioxide channel 16. Since the inputs used for simulations are the same for CRTM and RTTOV, the differential biases at the water vapor channels may be associated with subtle differences in forward models.

Joining a Discrete Radiative Transfer Model and a Kernel Retrieval Algorithm for Soil Moisture Estimation From SAR Data

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 3463-3475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Stamenkovic ◽  
Paolo Ferrazzoli ◽  
Leila Guerriero ◽  
Devis Tuia ◽  
Jean-Philippe Thiran
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Sar Data ◽  
Moisture Estimation

scholarly journals On the Radiative Transfer Model for Soil Moisture across Space, Time and Hydro-Climates

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 2645
Author(s):  
Maheshwari Neelam ◽  
Binayak P. Mohanty
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Surface Heterogeneity ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Land Surface Heterogeneity ◽  
Vegetation Characteristics ◽  
Physical Variables

A framework is proposed for understanding the efficacy of the microwave radiative transfer model (RTM) of soil moisture with different support scales, seasonality (time), hydroclimates, and aggregation (scaling) methods. In this paper, the sensitivity of brightness temperature TB (H- and V-polarization) to physical variables (soil moisture, soil texture, surface roughness, surface temperature, and vegetation characteristics) is studied. Our results indicate that the sensitivity of brightness temperature (V- or H-polarization) is determined by the upscaling method and heterogeneity observed in the physical variables. Under higher heterogeneity, the TB sensitivity to vegetation and roughness followed a logarithmic function with an increasing support scale, while an exponential function is followed under lower heterogeneity. Surface temperature always followed an exponential function under all conditions. The sensitivity of TB at H- or V- polarization to soil and vegetation characteristics varied with the spatial scale (extent and support) and the amount of biomass observed. Thus, choosing an H- or V-polarization algorithm for soil moisture retrieval is a tradeoff between support scales, and land surface heterogeneity. For largely undisturbed natural environments such as SGP’97 and SMEX04, the sensitivity of TB to variables remains nearly uniform and is not influenced by extent, support scales, or an upscaling method. On the contrary, for anthropogenically-manipulated environments such as SMEX02 and SMAPVEX12, the sensitivity to variables is highly influenced by the distribution of land surface heterogeneity and upscaling methods.

scholarly journals Mapping barrier island soil moisture using a radiative transfer model of hyperspectral imagery from an unmanned aerial system

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rehman S. Eon ◽  
Charles M. Bachmann
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Hyperspectral Imagery ◽  
Barrier Island ◽  
Water Layer ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model

AbstractThe advent of remote sensing from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has opened the door to more affordable and effective methods of imaging and mapping of surface geophysical properties with many important applications in areas such as coastal zone management, ecology, agriculture, and defense. We describe a study to validate and improve soil moisture content retrieval and mapping from hyperspectral imagery collected by a UAS system. Our approach uses a recently developed model known as the multilayer radiative transfer model of soil reflectance (MARMIT). MARMIT partitions contributions due to water and the sediment surface into equivalent but separate layers and describes these layers using an equivalent slab model formalism. The model water layer thickness along with the fraction of wet surface become parameters that must be optimized in a calibration step, with extinction due to water absorption being applied in the model based on equivalent water layer thickness, while transmission and reflection coefficients follow the Fresnel formalism. In this work, we evaluate the model in both field settings, using UAS hyperspectral imagery, and laboratory settings, using hyperspectral spectra obtained with a goniometer. Sediment samples obtained from four different field sites representing disparate environmental settings comprised the laboratory analysis while field validation used hyperspectral UAS imagery and coordinated ground truth obtained on a barrier island shore during field campaigns in 2018 and 2019. Analysis of the most significant wavelengths for retrieval indicate a number of different wavelengths in the short-wave infra-red (SWIR) that provide accurate fits to measured soil moisture content in the laboratory with normalized root mean square error (NRMSE)< 0.145, while independent evaluation from sequestered test data from the hyperspectral UAS imagery obtained during the field campaign obtained an average NRMSE = 0.169 and median NRMSE = 0.152 in a bootstrap analysis.

scholarly journals Potential of Hyperspectral Thermal Infrared Spaceborne Measurements to Retrieve Ice Cloud Physical Properties: Case Study of IASI and IASI-NG

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Lucie Leonarski ◽  
Laurent C.-Labonnote ◽  
Mathieu Compiègne ◽  
Jérôme Vidot ◽  
Anthony J. Baran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Thermal Infrared ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Retrieval Algorithm ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Water Path ◽  
Ice Cloud ◽  
Ice Water Path ◽  
Ice Water

The present study aims to quantify the potential of hyperspectral thermal infrared sounders such as the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) and the future IASI next generation (IASI-NG) for retrieving the ice cloud layer altitude and thickness together with the ice water path. We employed the radiative transfer model Radiative Transfer for TOVS (RTTOV) to simulate cloudy radiances using parameterized ice cloud optical properties. The radiances have been computed from an ice cloud profile database coming from global operational short-range forecasts at the European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) which encloses the normal conditions, typical variability, and extremes of the atmospheric properties over one year (Eresmaa and McNally (2014)). We performed an information content analysis based on Shannon’s formalism to determine the amount and spectral distribution of the information about ice cloud properties. Based on this analysis, a retrieval algorithm has been developed and tested on the profile database. We considered the signal-to-noise ratio of each specific instrument and the non-retrieved atmospheric and surface parameter errors. This study brings evidence that the observing system provides information on the ice water path (IWP) as well as on the layer altitude and thickness with a convergence rate up to 95% and expected errors that decrease with cloud opacity until the signal saturation is reached (satisfying retrievals are achieved for clouds whose IWP is between about 1 and 300 g/m2).

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